[w]→[∅]Certainty: 5/5Commonality: 5/5
Voiced labio-velar approximant to Empty sound / Zero
The elision of the labio-velar approximant [w] is a common sound change, particularly in complex clusters or word-final positions.
Phonetic Effects
Elision, Glide Loss, Vocalization
Language Examples
write [wr]→[raɪt]— Loss of the initial [w] in [wr] clusters during the Early Modern English period.
sword [sw]→[sɔːd]— Elision of [w] following a sibilant.
digamma [w]→∅— Systematic loss of the historical [w] sound (digamma) across most Ancient Greek dialects.
Related Transformations
More Germanic Shifts
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